Miniature Football Helmet With built-in Insulated Beverage Holder

ABSTRACT

Invention is a novelty device where a molded polycarbonate miniature football helmet body with a hole in top and bracketry beneath hole for maintaining beverage container; replica facemask, chin strap, buckle-snaps, foam padding, brace-clips, snaps, professional or collegiate team decals, and insulated/freezable beverage holder are assembled to provide a mechanism for consuming beverage from a can/bottle held in place by the insertion of can/bottle through said hole in top of helmet body and captured by insulated/freezable beverage holder where temperature of beverage can be maintained and device owner can place helmet/beverage assembly on a surface or hold device by facemask while consuming beverage from helmet/beverage assembly. One thing that makes invention unique is it provides an insulated/freezable beverage holder mounted inside of a scaled replica football helmet with detailed color and graphics depicting the owner&#39;s favorite professional or collegiate team.

The present invention is a functional novelty device in the form of a miniature replica football helmet of approximately half-scale with a built-in beverage holder providing insulating properties for beverage consumption to individuals interested in representing their team loyalty while consuming said beverage, which is made up of the following required elements:

-   -   Replica helmet body (12): molded plastic, polycarbonate,         fiberglass, aluminum alloy or other sturdy material, preferably         polycarbonate formed in shape of approximate half-scale football         helmet with hole (16) in top (slightly larger than beverage         can). Helmet body has interference fit between hole and beverage         holder (18) to hold beverage can/bottle (22) in position.     -   Replica facemask (20): rubber, vinyl or plastic-coated metal,         fiberglass or plastic array, preferably rubber-coated metal         fabricated to represent football helmet facemask of same scale         as previously mentioned replica helmet body (12). Purpose is for         authenticity and for user (26) to hold assembly (10) while         consuming beverage.     -   Beverage holder (18): molded closed-cell foam, plastic,         polycarbonate, fiberglass, aluminum alloy or other sturdy         material or combination of materials; or removable freezable gel         sleeve (previously manufactured device)(18): used here to         maintain temperature of beverage. May also have imagery (14) of         customer's (26) choice including but not limited to team name,         team logo, fan name and/or player face to individualize product.     -   Replica helmet accessories: chin strap with padded chin piece         (30) and metal buckle-snaps (32), mating snaps (34), foam         padding (36) internal to helmet (12) in locations replicating         actual helmet padding, and facemask brace-clips (38). Purpose is         to maximize authenticity of overall replica appearance.     -   Team decals/screening (14): used to indicate owner's (26)         favorite professional or collegiate team.

The components are assembled to closely resemble a football helmet but on approximately half-scale. The hole (16) along with beverage holder/removable freezable gel sleeve (18) maintain the can/bottle (22) in position while the beverage/helmet assembly is placed on surfaces, held in the hand (26) or consumed. Insulated beverage holder/removable freezable gel sleeve (18) is placed internal to helmet to hold can/bottle (22) in place within helmet (12) depending on overall success of each design and upon customer desire for placing alternate insulated holders/gel sleeves (18) within helmet. The components are assembled in a manner to duplicate an actual helmet; team decals/screening (14) are applied in appropriate locations, padding is glued inside helmet (12) where suitable, facemask (20) is attached with brace-clips (38) and screws, mating snaps (34) are screwed or riveted in position, and buckle-snaps (32) are slid onto chin strap (30) and attached to mating snaps (34).

Insulated beverage holder/removable freezable gel sleeve (18) can be seen through facemask (20) and may show team name, team logo, owner's name, player name, player face or other imagery (14).

Helmet assembly (10) can be used as novelty item on desk or table to hold anything that will fit into insulated beverage holder (18) such as pens, pencils, paperclips, candy bars, etc (24).

While the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. This invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments setforth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure, the drawings and the claims.

It should be understood that it is within the scope of this invention to cover the base claim (i.e., claim 1) plus one or more of the various optional limitations added in the dependent claims, which either directly or indirectly depend from claim 1. 

1. A miniature football helmet, wherein the size of the overall device is approximately half-scale of an official size football helmet, with hole in top, wherein the size of the hole is slightly larger than the diameter of a standard aluminum can, and built-in insulated beverage holder comprising a replica helmet body; replica facemask; brace clips which are used to position and hold in place the replica facemask; and insulated beverage holder. This assembly is produced to hold a beverage can/bottle in place while owner holds assembly by facemask while consuming beverage.
 2. The replica helmet of claim 1 with replica helmet accessories including chinstrap, buckle snaps and helmet mounted snaps that are used to position and hold in place the chinstrap.
 3. The replica helmet of claim 1 with replica helmet accessory foam padding internal to helmet and held in place with adhesive.
 4. The replica helmet of claim 1 with replica helmet accessory team decals and/or screening wherein the team decals and screening are applied to the exterior of the replica helmet body.
 5. The replica helmet of claim 1 with replica helmet accessories including chin strap, buckle snaps, helmet mounted snaps which are used to position and hold in place the chin strap, and foam padding internal to helmet and held in place with adhesive.
 6. The replica helmet of claim 1 with replica helmet accessories including chin strap, buckle snaps, helmet mounted snaps which are used to position and hold in place the chin strap, and team decals and screening wherein the team decals and screening are applied to the exterior of the replica helmet body.
 7. The replica helmet of claim 1 with replica helmet accessories including foam padding, and team decals and screening wherein the team decals and screening are applied to the exterior of the replica helmet body.
 8. The replica helmet of claim 1 with replica helmet accessories including chin strap, buckle snaps, helmet mounted snaps which are used to position and hold in place the chin strap, foam padding internal to helmet and held in place with adhesive, and team decals and screening wherein the team decals and screening are applied to the exterior of the replica helmet body.
 9. A miniature football helmet, wherein the size of the overall device is approximately half-scale of an official size football helmet, with hole in top, wherein the size of the hole is slightly larger than the diameter of a standard aluminum can, and removable freezable gel sleeve comprising a replica helmet body; replica facemask; brace clips which are used to position and hold in place the replica facemask; and removable freezable gel sleeve. This assembly is produced to hold a beverage can/bottle in place while owner holds assembly by facemask while consuming beverage.
 10. The replica helmet of claim 9 with replica helmet accessories including chin strap, buckle snaps and helmet mounted snaps which are used to position and hold in place the chin strap.
 11. The replica helmet of claim 9 with replica helmet accessory foam padding internal to helmet and held in place with adhesive.
 12. The replica helmet of claim 9 with replica helmet accessory team decals and screening wherein the team decals and screening are applied to the exterior of the replica helmet body.
 13. The replica helmet of claim 9 with replica helmet accessories including chin strap, buckle snaps, helmet mounted snaps which are used to position and hold in place the chin strap, and foam padding internal to helmet and held in place with adhesive.
 14. The replica helmet of claim 9 with replica helmet accessories including chin strap, buckle snaps, helmet mounted snaps which are used to position and hold in place the chin strap, and team decals and screening wherein the team decals and screening are applied to the exterior of the replica helmet body.
 15. The replica helmet of claim 9 with replica helmet accessories including foam padding, and team decals and screening wherein the team decals and screening are applied to the exterior of the replica helmet body.
 16. The replica helmet of claim 9 with replica helmet accessories including chin strap, buckle snaps, helmet mounted snaps which are used to position and hold in place the chin strap, foam padding internal to helmet and held in place with adhesive, and team decals and screening wherein the team decals and screening are applied to the exterior of the replica helmet body.
 17. A miniature football helmet with hole in top and built-in insulated beverage holder comprising a replica helmet body; replica facemask; insulated beverage holder; replica helmet accessories including chin strap, foam padding, brace-clips and snaps; team decals and screening wherein the team decals and screening are applied to the exterior of the replica helmet body, the brace clips and snaps are used to position and hold in place the replica facemask and chin strap, and the foam padding is located and held in place with adhesive. This assembly is produced to closely replicate the appearance of a professional or collegiate team football helmet and can be placed on a surface where desk accessories such as pencils, pens or paperclips; food items such as candy bars, gum or pixie sticks; other items such as straws, forks, spoons, knives or any miscellaneous items can be placed in hole to allow access by owner or other user. 